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Maintained by: kenkwok@cmu.edu |
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| Time: | Tuesdays and Thursdays, 9:00 A.M. - 10:20 A.M. |
| Place: | Adamson Wing, Baker Hall 136A |
| Online: | http://www.andrew.cmu.edu/course/85-711 |
| Bboard: | academic.psy.85-711 |
| Professor: Herbert A. Simon | has@v.gp.cs.cmu.edu |
| (BH 339, ext. 8-2787) | |
| Teaching Assistant: Ken Kwok | kenkwok@cmu.edu |
| OFFICE HOURS
Tuedays 10.30 - 12.30 pm (BH 455B, ext. 8-8113) Fridays 1.00 - 2.00 pm (MI 110C, ext. 8-4567) Other times by appointment |
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| Executive Assistant: Janet New Hilf | jnhilf@v.gp.cs.cmu.edu |
| (BH 339, ext. 8-2801) |
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This course is no longer being conducted. Professor Herbert A. Simon,
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In this course, you will be expected to acquire (1) a knowledge of contemporary theory of how people think and learn by processing symbols, and the empirical evidence supporting (or challenging) the theory, and (2) some fundamental research skills useful for exploring these questions. In addition to skills of designing and carrying out standard laboratory experiments, you will have opportunities to acquire and practice skills (a) of using and constructing computer programs to simulate human cognitive processes and (b) of obtaining and analyzing verbal thinking-aloud protocols as an important source of data for cognitive studies.
Three main threads run through the course simultaneously: (1) the contemporary theory of human cognition and its empirical base, (2) task environments for studying cognition and (3) methods for modeling behavior and securing empirical data. The course is organized mainly along the first thread. The sequence of major topics is shown on the following schedule.
| WEEK | TOPIC | DATES |
| 1
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General Introduction
A. Overview: Approaches to Cognition Sciences of the Artificial (SofA), Ch. 1; *[Simon & Kaplan, Foundations, Secs 1.1-1.3, 1.5 thru p. 31, pp. 37-44]; Newell & Simon [N&S], Ch. 2; *[N&S, Historical addendum] B. Issues: Functional v. process interpretation of systems Serial/parallel; symbolic/non-symbolic Social context of cognition Empirical methods C. Production systems as notation D. Protocol analysis as experimental tool E. Computers and brains are physical symbol systems |
8/29,31 |
| 2-3
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Architecture: Introductory View
A. Overall model: Structure and process Simon I:2.3; *[Card et al., ch. 2]; Richman, et al. (1995) B. STM Simon II:2.4, *[I:2.2]; *[Baddeley] C. LTM/Epam *[Simon, I:3.2],*[Feigenbaum & Simon, II.3.4] |
9/5,7,12,14 |
| 4-5
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Problem Solving in Knowledge-Lean
Domains
A. Theory of problem solving SofA, ch. 3 1. Problem spaces: *[N&S, Ch.3] 2. Heuristic search: *[N&S, Ch.4] B. Protocol Analysis: Ericsson & Simon, 1980, *[N&S. Ch.6] C. Models: List structures, strategies 1. Missionaries and Cannibals: *[Jeffries et al., Simon & Reed, I:4.6] 2. Tower of Hanoi: Simon I:4.5 3. Cryptarithmetic: *[N&S, Ch.5-7 (esp. 7)] D. Problem Understanding 1. Understanding algebra word problems: Simon I:4.4 2. Understanding Tower of Hanoi Isomorphs: Simon I:7.1, *[II:4.8] 3. Understanding physics word problems: *[Novak] E. Theory of human problem solving: N&S, Ch.14 |
9/19,21,26,28 |
| 6-7
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Skill Acquisition: Learning
SofA, Chap. 4. A. Practice effects: speedup and automation *[Newell & Rosenbloom]; *[Schneider & Shiffrin] B. Learning in EPAM (review) C. Learning in production systems 1. Learning from doing: Simon II:3.2 2. Learning from examples: Simon II:3.5 3. Learning from recipes: *[Anderson 1982] D. Rote and meaningful learning |
10/3,5,10,12 |
| *** TERM PROJECT PROPOSAL DUE OCTOBER 12 *** | ||
| 8
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Expert-Novice Differences
SofA, Chaps. 5 and 6 A. Perceptual chunking in chess: Simon I:6.4 B. Expert memory: *[Richman et al., 1996] C. Chunking in physics: Simon II:4.3, *[Larkin, et al., II:4.5] D. Children as "novices": *[Siegler] |
10/17,19 |
| 9
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Overview of Architecture for Problem
Solving, Memory and Perception
A. "Unified" models: EPAM + GPS, ACT, SOAR, PDP B. Connecting with neurophysiology C. Parameters: N&S, Ch.14; Richman et al. (1995) D. Decomposability: SofA, Chapters 7 and 8 |
10/24,26 |
| 10-11
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Representation and Imagery
Simon II:6.3; Kaplan & Simon (1990); Qin & Simon 1995; Tabachneck, Leonardo & Simon 1994 |
10/31,
11/2,7,9 |
| 12
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Concept Attainment
A. Overall framework: Simon I:5.5 B. Sequential Patterns: Simon I:5.2, *[Gregg & Simon, I:5.4] |
11/14,16 |
| 13-15
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Scientific Discovery
SofA, pp. 105-110 Langley, Zytkow, Simon & Bradshaw; * [Bradshaw, Langley & Simon]; Simon II:5.3 Qin & Simon, 1990 |
11/21,28,30
12/5,7,12 |
The readings indicated in the schedule refer mainly to the textbooks but also to some articles from the literature. They deal with the main substantive topics we shall discuss as well as the principal empirical and modeling techniques used in cognitive research. Optional readings are marked with an asterisk (*). Other readings will be recommended from time to time.
For an elaborated listing of the required readings click here. A listing of additional readings can be found here.
Software for the homework assignments may be downloaded by clicking on the following links. However, please note that these programs require the Macintosh platform to run.
If you are running the program from a Mac in a CMU cluster, you should create this folder in the "User Files" folder. If the folder was automatically created on your desktop, drag this folder into the folder ãUser Filesä (this is the only folder in which you have full read, write and execute privileges). You can now run programs from within this folder by double-clicking on the appropriate file.
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Maintained by: kenkwok@cmu.edu |
Best viewed with: |